Months of damaging information have triggered a tricky summer season for tourism in Los Angeles, deepening the financial woes for a metropolis buffeted by pure disasters and immigration raids.
Vacationer arrivals fell by near 10% this season, based on the most recent numbers from Go to California.
The area’s financial system and picture suffered vital setbacks this yr. Surprising photos of the damaging Eaton and Palisades fires in January, adopted by the immigration crackdown in June, made world information and repelled guests. In the meantime, President Trump’s fickle tariff insurance policies and different geopolitical posturing have satisfied many worldwide vacationers to keep away from America.
On Hollywood Boulevard, there are fewer vacationers, and those who present up spend much less, says Salim Osman. He works for Journey Like A Star, an unique automobile firm that rents to guests trying to take a luxurious car for a spin and snap the quintessential L.A. selfie.
Final yr, crowds lined as much as hire its Ferraris and Porches for round $200 an hour, Salim says. Nonetheless, this summer season, foot site visitors dropped by practically 50%.
“It was once shoulder to shoulder out right here,” he mentioned, wanting alongside the boulevard. “It’s quite a bit more durable for individuals to come back right here, or they’re afraid of what’s occurring right here, so they simply don’t come.”
Enterprise has been sluggish across the TCL Chinese language Theater, the place guests place their palms into the concrete handprints of celebrities like Kristen Stewart and Denzel Washington.
There have been fewer individuals to hop onto sightseeing buses, cease inside Madame Tussauds wax museum and snap impromptu photographs with patrolling characters akin to Spiderman and Mickey Mouse. Memento retailers close by say they’ve additionally needed to improve the costs of a lot of their knick-knacks due to tariffs and a decline in gross sales.
Of all of the state’s worldwide vacationers, probably the most vital absence was from Canadian vacationers. Arrivals from guests from up north fell round 30% in June and July.
Summer time in Palm Springs was okay this yr, mentioned its mayor, Ron deHarte, however solely as a result of home vacationers offset the sharp decline in Canadians.
“We’ve harm our Canadian Pals with actions that the administration has taken. It’s comprehensible,” he mentioned. “We don’t know the way lengthy they gained’t need to journey to the States, however we’re hopeful that it’s short-term.”
A view of vacationers at Lengthy Seashore Airport in Lengthy Seashore. Lengthy Seashore Airport noticed a ten.5% lower in passenger site visitors when in comparison with 2024.
(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Occasions)
Guests from China, India and Germany additionally prevented the state. Surprisingly, Mexican vacationers didn’t keep away. There have been 5.4% extra arrivals from our southern neighbor regardless of the ICE raids, which regularly focused Latino individuals.
There was a dip in site visitors to most Los Angeles airports. With the World Cup on the books for subsequent yr and the Summer time Olympics gearing up in 2028, the rising decline in tourism is worrisome for a lot of throughout all industries.
Cynthia Guidry, the director of the Lengthy Seashore Airport, says lowered airline schedules, financial pressures and rising prices additionally impacted airport site visitors. She’s presently in search of out methods to greatest put together for the Olympics, which don’t contain flight income, akin to eating on the airport and memento buying.
“We’re centered on attracting new service, rising non-aeronautical income and managing bills to remain resilient,” she mentioned.
Most of the state’s most distinguished points of interest are additionally experiencing dry spells. Yosemite reported a lower of as a lot as 50% in bookings forward of Memorial Day weekend.
Dennis Speigel, president of Worldwide Theme Park Companies, a consulting agency within the trade, says that this previous yr has been a “delicate yr” for many theme parks nationwide.
The “Endlessly Marilyn” statue towers over guests who attend the weekly Palm Springs Villagefest alongside Museum Manner.
(Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Occasions)
There have been fewer worldwide guests and extra home site visitors, as extra persons are embracing the thought of staycations, or spending their holidays nearer to dwelling.
“Folks within the locales the place the parks are stayed of their areas,” he mentioned, including that this summer season individuals stayed dwelling due to “the overall financial system, the media, the tariffs, the confusion and the uncertainty that got here with that.”
Los Angeles and California rely upon tourism.
Final yr, the state’s tourism hit a brand new excessive, with customers spending $157.3 billion, up 3% from 2023, and creating 24,000 jobs, based on a 2024 financial affect report from Go to California.
“Los Angeles is California’s major worldwide gateway; the impacts are felt statewide,” Adam Burke, president of Los Angeles Tourism, mentioned in a press release to The Occasions. “Wanting forward, long-term restoration will rely upon world financial situations and the way the U.S. is perceived overseas.”
Vacationers stroll throughout celeb stars on Hollywood Boulevard in entrance of the Dolby Theater.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Occasions)
Australian vacationers Geoffrey and Tennille Mutton ignored the warnings of their family and friends to carry their two daughters to L.A.
“Lots of people have had a modified view of America,” mentioned Geoffrey as his household loved Ben & Jerry’s ice cream outdoors of Hollywood’s Dolby Theater. “They don’t need to come right here and assist this place.”
